LAT Aerospace Acquires Defense Robotics Startup
LAT Aerospace, a venture from Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, has acquired Sharang Shakti, a Gurgaon-based defense robotics startup. The acquisition is aimed at building shared autonomy technology with applications for both civilian and defense sectors.
- This acquisition marks a strategic pivot for LAT Aerospace, which was founded in January 2025 by Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal and Surobhi Das with an initial focus on developing hybrid-electric Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft for regional connectivity. The deal is a move to vertically integrate core technologies, with Goyal stating the shared tech stack across civil and defense aerospace includes autonomy, perception, sensing, navigation, guidance, and control systems. - Sharang Shakti, founded in 2023 by a team with roots in technical clubs at IIT Delhi, specializes in counter-UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) technology. Its product suite includes drone detection radar and kinetic-kill interceptors, such as the 'vajR' system, which is a reusable, AI-enabled drone designed to physically collide with and neutralize aerial threats. - The transaction provides an exit for Sharang Shakti's early investors, who participated in a Rs 5 crore (approximately $599K) pre-seed funding round in September 2024. That round was co-led by AUM Ventures and Venture Highway. - This move aligns with India's broader defense modernization and self-reliance policy, known as "Atmanirbhar Bharat". Government programs like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) are actively providing grants and creating procurement pathways for startups to shorten development cycles and fill capability gaps for the armed forces. - By acquiring a defense robotics firm, LAT Aerospace is building an in-house technology stack with dual-use applications, a strategy common among major global aerospace companies. This allows for tighter control over intellectual property and system integration for both its planned civilian aircraft and potential future defense platforms. - The acquisition follows Deepinder Goyal's January 2026 transition from his CEO role at Zomato's parent company, Eternal, to pursue "higher-risk exploration and experimentation" outside of a public company framework. LAT Aerospace has reportedly raised $20 million in funding to support its ambitious plans.
